Thursday, October 22, 2009

Sorry about the lack of updates this week, I've been laid out with the H1N1 (or is it just the flu ? how do I know the difference ? should I care ?) since Monday morning. As I still don't feel that well, I'll keep it short and sweet:

CCCX Fall DH #1 (Near Monterey on Saturday): consistently one of the best attended series in Northern California, this is the kickoff for the fall 2009 series. The course is described as "It is going to be a super fast course for the CCCX Fall/Winter DH Series opener. Speeds will be extremely high as recent rains have helped improve the traction on most of the trails. There will be some tricky turns added and some break check spots where tire traction will be tested. This course has some screaming fast spots in it where gravity takes over and it feels like your riding at freeway speed. Plus some slow sections of trail where line choice and rider control will dictate who is best. Most of all it is going to be fun!" Peruse the archives for extensive pics and past race results.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

The Bay Area’s cycling social event of the season, the NorCal League’s CycleFest 2009 will feature the CEO of Slipstream Sports, Jonathan Vaughters, as its special guest at its main annual fundraiser, a three-day gathering, November 6-8 in Mill Valley.

Also on show at the CycleFest dinner will be a vintage poster show displaying European poster art with a cycling theme. Elizabeth Norris of Vintage European Posters (www.vepca.com) will be displaying a portion of her collection of original posters from as early as 1890.

The CycleFest 2009 schedule is as follows:Friday, November 6th: Cocktail reception with Jonathan Vaughters in Mill ValleySaturday, November 7th: Benefit dinner, silent auction and vintage poster show, hosted by Jonathan Vaughters at the Mill Valley Community CenterSunday, November 8th: Scenic road ride in Marin countryside with Jonathan Vaughters.

Proceeds from the ticket sales and silent auction go to supporting the Northern California High School Mountain Bike League, so be sure to purchase one for your friend/spouse/partner too! Regular tickets are $150.00, and Patron tickets, which include an intimate cocktail hour with Vaughters, are $195.00. All tickets are available online at http://norcalmtb.org/.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

I don't usually fully cover the college MTB racing scene, but the US Championships are being held just up the road from me at Northstar this weekend (and I know a lot of college racers read the site):

Collegiate riders from around the nation are getting ready to converge on the Northstar at Tahoe resort near Truckee, Calif. to race for national titles at the USA Cycling Collegiate Mountain Bike National Championships, the second national championship event of the 2009/2010 collegiate cycling season.

The event, slated for October 16-18, is being hosted by the University of Nevada at Reno and will award a total of twenty-two national titles, including the overall team omniums in Divisions I and II. Fort Lewis College and Appalachian State University will look to defend the coveted team crowns they earned a year ago in Banner Elk, N.C.

In addition to all the racing on tap, the USA Cycling Collegiate Mountain Bike National Championship Banquet will take place on Saturday night at the Mid-Mountain Lodge. The banquet will feature guest speaker Katerina Nash, a graduate of the University of Nevada at Reno, and will also provide a great opportunity for riders to meet USA Cycling’s new High School and Collegiate Program Manager, Jeffrey Hansen.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

SRAM has signed a four-year agreement to be the presenting sponsor of the Sea Otter Classic.

SRAM's industry leadership and broad reach across all aspects of cycling make it the perfect company for presenting sponsorship of Sea Otter. The partnership guarantees continued growth of the event as it prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary.

"SRAM has been a sponsor and supporter of the Sea Otter Classic since 1995. Much of the success Sea Otter has enjoyed is directly attributable to their generosity," said Frank Yohannan, president of the Sea Otter Classic. "With SRAM's support, we'll continue to present one of the world's premiere cycling events and, more importantly, to introduce a new generation of young people to the wonderful sport of cycling. We look forward to many years of hosting the Sea Otter Classic... Powered by SRAM!"

September 4-6: Tahoe Sierra 100 (Ice Lakes Lodge, Soda Springs, CA). Three day stage race OPTION. Racers have the option of doing just the 100, or the three day stage race. Solo racers doing all three days. Or teams of two doing all three stages both racers doing the three stages. Or teams of three with each racer doing one stage each.) **

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Just a heads up for those of you looking for a non-racing MTB weekend/roadtrip to close out the season:

18th Annual Kernville Fat Tire FestivalOctober 16-18, 2009

Kernville is where it's at for our 18th annual Kernville Fat Tire Festival staged over three days, October 16, 17 and 18, 2009. Come join us for one, two or three days of total immersion in biking activities for all riding abilities. Bring your riding club or come to meet other riding enthusiasts, just like you.

The town of Kernville (MAP) uses the Sequoia National Forest for a playground, come play with us!

Tom Anderson had his gate person announce last week to all of the riders that he has sold the ranch. It is in Escrow, which is an in-between phase until the new owner takes over. Until that time, we are still running as usual.

Wednesday, October 07, 2009

I just got word that everything is a "go" for this race, even with the low temperatures up in Truckee:

This weekend, Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort will serve as host to the 3rd Annual 'Race for Tara,' a benefit DH race weekend to raise funds for the Tara Llanes Road to Recovery Fund and the Christopher Reeve Foundation to find a cure for spinal cord injury.

This year's event will kick-off with race practice on Saturday, October 10 and a party at sundown in the Village at Northstar™ featuring a DJ, video screening, raffle and beer for participants 21+. The race will begin at 11 a.m. sharp on Sunday, October 11 with sport and beginner, 4-wheel, and professional and expert divisions competing on a four mile long course featuring a 1,800 foot descent that begins at Northstar® Resort's summit and ends at mid-mountain (see this page for the complete course for each category).

Donations to participate in the race are $35 for beginner, sport and expert divisions, and $40 for semi-pro and pro classes. In addition, Northstar Resort will offer discounted lift tickets for $25 to registered riders on both Saturday and Sunday of the event weekend. Medals will be awarded to the top three finishers in each division, and GIANT Bicycles is sponsoring a $2,500 Pro prize purse.

Among the Pro racers who are expected to compete are US National Short Track Champion Adam Craig and his Giant MTB teammates Carl Decker and Jared Rando, Former US National Downhill Champion Cody Warren, and a possible guest appearance by local rider and multiple X-Games gold medalist Shaun Palmer. The event will conclude Sunday with a huge raffle that at previous 'Race for Tara' events has been the highlight of the race weekend.

Obviously, this is a great race and Northstar has taken it up a notch with the Saturday night party (see here for details). I'll be heading up to help support the cause.